Circuits

Amplifiers use a bidirectional data buffer to send and receive information. The specific orientation of a bidirectional buffer makes this type of buffer uniquely capable of supporting the two-way flow…

A watchdog circuit, or watchdog timer circuit, is a hardware circuit designed to protect an electronic system in the event that something goes wrong and the system cannot recover on its own. Some…

Diodes are small electronic devices that are used in many types of circuits where strict control over electrical current is important, making them a familiar component of household appliances,…

Dedicated circuits help appliances function without interruption. More importantly, they can reduce the risk of electrical fires associated with overloaded circuits. The more large appliances and…

Manufacturers create flex circuitry when the product demands that the circuit board has a certain amount of flexibility. The conductors are made into a type of three-dimensional circuit with a…

Household electrical circuits are rated according to the number of amperes they can carry at once; the total current draw of the circuit is spread out across all appliances connected to it. One of the…

Relays are electrically operated switches. A switch is a component used to break electrical circuits to stop the flow of a current or to send a current to another conductor. Circuits are…

A synchronous circuit is an electrical circuit in which a “clock signal” switches between two different states, generally referred to as “high” and “low,”…

An ATM circuit breaker, or fuse, is used for computer-controlled devices including cars. It is an automatic plug-in switch that protects an electrical circuit from damage caused by an overload or…

An FM transmitter is an electronic circuit that broadcasts speech and music over radio waves. FM, or frequency modulation, is the manner in which the circuit transmits audio signals. The transmitter…

Honda vehicles have a unique automatic control over the vehicle's alternator. When presented with a high electrical load over two amperes, the malfunction indicator light commonly appears on the…

A plug is an object located on one end of a power cord that connects an electrical device to a receptacle. Most household electrical receptacles have a 15-amp rating, but they connect to a 20-amp…

An electrical circuit consists of a power source such as a battery and an electrical device which are connected together by wires. Positive electrons flow from the positive terminal on the power…

There is no simple answer to how many or what types of household appliances can be served by a single circuit. Different appliances have different electrical demands. Another factor is whether the…

The simplest amplifier circuits use a single transistor. This is an electronic device that controls electrical currents similar to the way a valve controls the flow of water. The transistor uses the…

The "divide-by-three" circuit is one of a class of circuits for performing frequency division. It takes an incoming electronic signal through the clock input pin, and outputs it through a…

A ventilator pumps air into a patient's lungs and aids in expelling carbon dioxide. A ventilator circuit is a tube made from synthetic material, and it connects the patient to the ventilator. The tube…

A trigger transformer acts like any other electronic transformer, transferring electrical current between two circuits through inductively coupled conductors. The trigger transformer differs from…

Elevation and altitude both affect an electrical circuit, including the accumulator circuit. An accumulator is a device that stores energy and can be used in a variety of equipment or machines, such…

All electrical circuits contain at least two basic components -- a power supply and a load. It is possible to have multiple loads in the same circuit; likewise, it is possible to have two power…

The DC operating point of a circuit refers to the DC operating point of a solid state circuit such as a diode circuit. The DC operating point of a diode circuit is defined as the current that flows…

A CMOS inverter is an integrated circuit, or IC, designed to manipulate digital data in computers and related equipment. Its transistors have complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technology for…

If you ride motocross as a hobby or in youth sports, there is a good chance you have thought about competing at a professional level. Being a professional motocross rider is a long and arduous task…

Electronic circuits, or paths for electrical flow, reside in many different devices, from industrial pressure gauges to digital measuring multimeters. Typically, electronic circuits require periodic…

The thrill of spinning around a dirt motocross circuit begins with proper entry onto the tracks. Motocross centers frequently provide various types of tracks that accommodate motocross riders of all…

A buzzer is an electric or electromechanical device that makes a continuous sound when you connect it to electricity. One kind of buzzer has an electromagnet that pulls a switch contact against a…

A PIP circuit is a component in automobiles that determines engine speed and crankshaft position. The sensor for the PIP, or "profile ignition pickup," is located behind the crankshaft. The circuit…

Electric circuits are used to convert electrical energy into light, heat, or mechanical work. Direct current electrical power supplied -- as supplied by a battery -- is produced by an electrochemical…

Series and parallel circuits are used for different purposes. For example, a battery pack has several cells wired in series to increase the output voltage, but the series does not increase endurance.…

A capacitor is an electrical device that stores electric charge. Capacitors can be used to smooth out direct current (DC) power or can be used to change the characteristics of alternating current (AC)…

Electricity and magnetism are two closely related physical phenomena. When a transient electric field is induced across an inductor, it will create an alternating current signal through the circuit…

An electric circuit can be made up of two or more current-conducting branches. When a circuit has more than one pathway for current to travel through, it is called a parallel circuit. Each circuit…

Circuit jumpers are short lengths of insulated, single-stranded copper wire with exposed ends. Circuit jumpers typically are used for two purposes: To bypass a section of a circuit to redirect…

A heat circuit, such as the element you find in an electric heater, is effectively a short circuit between the positive wire and the negative wire. However, other components are fitted in an electric…

Infrared (IR) detectors have many applications, but the most common one is in electronics. For example, remote controls have photodiodes that send signals to phototransistors that are in devices such…

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt (GFCI) switches were introduced in the 1960s in the United States to help prevent accidental electrocution. These switches will shut off on their own if they detect a…

A 50-ampere electrical circuit in the U.S. is typically used for heavy-duty appliances such as a stove. Heavy-duty circuits are rated at 220 volts and commonly have four wires that run from the…

Schematics play an important role in the design of any electronic device; schematics are used to plan the functionality of circuits within devices. Poorly planned circuits may not function as desired…

Bipolar transistors are semiconductors that mainly function as amplifiers or switches in electrical circuits. A bipolar transistor has three semiconductor layers: the base, emitter and collector. The…

Potential difference, or voltage, is electrical potential energy. While voltage functions the same in every circuit, it may behave differently depending on the type of circuit. Subsequently, the…

Audio delay is a sonic effect typically used for creative purposes. For example, the musician known as The Edge gets his distinctive guitar sound from digital delay. While delay is typically used as…

A multiwire branch circuit consists of at least two ungrounded or hot conductors connected to the same grounded or neutral conductor. A potential difference exists between each neutral conductor,…

Thermocouples are metallic junctions manufactured as temperature sensing units. These units are fabricated as junctions between two different electricity conducting metals or alloys and they measure…

A "ground loop" is an electrical problem caused by two pieces of equipment being connected together that have different neutral, or "ground," electrical potentials. Cable TV wires are commonly…

Nothing beats a light show to music, and especially an LED light show you can make yourself. LEDs are light-emitting diodes that run on a very small amount of power. When connected to an audio source,…

Megger manufactures equipment that deals with power, building wiring, contracting, terminal blocks, test switches, telecommunications and data communications. The company makes High Potential (Hipot)…

Electrical conductivity is the measure of how well materials conduct electricity. All physical materials have the ability to conduct electricity, and those that have higher conductivity measures are…

When items in a circuit are connected in a series, the circuit acts as a single path of current. In contrast, a parallel circuit consists of multiple branches, which are independent paths through…

Electronic audio projects can appeal to both electronics and sound enthusiasts, allowing the builder to learn about audio circuits and how they are assembled through hands-on experience. Many…

There are different ways of connecting multiple resistive elements like speakers to each other in an electric circuit. When the speakers are connected "end-to-end" -- that is, in a daisy chain with…

Closed Circuit television -- or CCTV -- serves several purposes ranging from protecting homes and businesses from criminal activity to ensuring that terrorist activity is detected at airports. These…

Today, the simplest cellphone has more processing power than the computers that controlled the Apollo lunar modules more than 40 years ago. Technology moves forward at an ever-increasing pace, and…

Audio electronics is a field of interest for many musicians, music fans or audiophiles curious to know how equipment operates and how to repair or modify their own gear. Many great audio companies…

Thermocouples are electronic devices that are used to monitor and control temperature. Thermocouples consist of two different types of metals joined together. When one of the pieces of metal is at a…

Electrical resistance is an important quantity in electronics. It refers to the extent to which a specially made component impedes current flow. Often a circuit board will contain many connected…

Schematic diagrams are used to represent electronic elements and the circuit layout using electronic symbolic elements. You need to understand the design of the circuit to draw a schematic. Schematics…

Widely used in scientific experiments during the first half of the 20th century, oscilloscopes were cathode-tube-based test instruments that allowed the user to watch electrical signals on a small…

While it's convenient and fun to have electronics in your home, sometimes it can be difficult to find the right gadgets or appliances for certain tasks. Each year various computer and cell phone…

Marshall amplifiers have been a standard in the music industry since 1962, and Marshall can list several illustrious music stars as clients. Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix are a few…

If you are looking to modify an electronic device, such as a cell phone, computer or video game controller, you can do so by adding LED lights to the circuit board. You can build a basic LED light…

Natural resistors exist in all electrical circuits because of the lack of perfection in electrical transference. A resistor is a device or interruption which causes a slowing or drain of electrical…

If your cable TV picture is distorted or the audio is accompanied by a hum, a ground loop may exist on your line. A ground loop occurs when your electronics have more than one path to a grounding…

Learning how to draw your own LED lighting schematics can be difficult, but it is a valuable skill to have. Schematics symbolize electronic circuits and their components with diagrams. LEDs…

Strobe lights are useful for dance parties, Halloween decorations and even on emergency response vehicles. You can make your own LED strobe light for a party or event decoration with a few simple…

It is frustrating not to hear your phone ringing at home. This is of particular concern to people who are hearing-impaired, or those who work in noisy conditions. A solution is to build a…

Electronics is the study of electrical circuits, which generally consist of power sources, wires and other integrated electrical components. A number of diagnostic tools are important in the…

High-pressure sodium ballast lamps use high pressures of sodium, in an excited state, to generate light. A ballast, in series with an AC current voltage source, supplies the lamp with a near-constant…

Coils are used in everyday technology to make electromagnets, heaters and inductors. The winding of a coil can take a long time to do manually. Coil winding machines automate this process creating…

Finding an electrical short circuit isn't difficult, but it does require the right tools and steps. A short occurs when electricity travels through a point without resistance. For example, electricity…

You enjoy listening to vinyl records, but unless your turntable's speed is accurate, the music's pitch will be off. Some turntables have a built-in strobe light that illuminates a pattern on the…

Light boxes are light bulbs contained within an open-faced box. A screen decorated with patterns of opaque and translucent materials is fitted across the open face and illuminated by the light bulb…

A phone light's sole purpose is to light up when a phone call comes in--providing a visual indicator to the call. You can build a phone light to add to an old-style rotary phone--or "dial"--providing…

An audio transformer isolates electronic systems audio signals from one stage of the system to another. Whether inside of a microphone or between audio circuit stages in an audio system, transformers…

Audio power amplifiers usually separate the last inductor in the output stage transmission chain. The last inductor usually receives the most attention when it comes to power efficiency in a circuit.

Audio amplifiers come in three categories: public address (PA), used in every public gathering from rock concerts to political speeches, car sound systems and home audio systems including video…

Inductor wires are used in electrical circuits to store energy which builds up during the passage of electrical current. Inductors can also be referred to as reactors and their main property, their…

If you like high quality audio playback in your car, you may have a dedicated amplifier to power your car stereo. The complexity of repairing car audio amplifiers depends on the nature and location of…

Founded in Kobe, Japan in the 1940s, TOA Corporation manufactures and distributes electronic products. The distribution list includes audio products like amplifiers, mixers and speakers, and security…

A voltmeter is an electronic testing device and is used to test for faulty wiring. The voltmeter provides a temporary circuit and measures the voltage of the current going through it. If the voltage…

Cooper-Atkins was established in 1885 and is a leader in temperature and humidity instrumentation. One of the products it produces is the Thermocouple Type J; it is an instrument intended for use in…

In the 19th century, it was discovered that electrical sparks emit electrical energy that travel through the air without the need of wires. This opened the way for wireless telegraphy, radio, and more…

While hand winding a transformer doesn't necessary mean it will help produce quality acoustics, the extra attention that an experienced artisan gives to a transformer can produce a more consistent…

Output transformers are a crucial part of any audio system. Commonly used on older tube amplifiers, output transformers are the last connection between your amplifier and the speaker. It's role is to…

One of the most basic electronic projects is a flashing light circuit, and is used to educate people in basic principles of electronics. If you have seen an indicator light that blinks on and off,…

LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are small semiconductor light sources. They are found on many electronics and are widely used. They are durable, lightweight and use hardly any electricity which makes…

Electronics control electric currents through conductors to carry electrical energy. Working with electricity can be dangerous, so safety requirements should be followed. These requirements can…

Wiring schematics illustrate the layout and value of a circuit. They are essential for understanding the scale and nature of closed circuits, such as those found inside radios, lighting systems and…

Making your own sound activated light emitting diodes (LEDs) can be almost as fun as actually using them. Sound activated LEDs have many uses, from creating your own clap on, clap off light source to…

FM radios have come a long way since their development and invention in the early 1900s. However, even with the advent of digital technology most FM radios consumers utilize a type of circuit known as…

Nick Holonyak discovered light emitting diodes (LEDs) in 1962 and since then they have been widely used in electronic equipment such as the indication lights on your VCR, televisions and in more…

When a disc jockey wants to speak over music fed to speakers, he plugs a microphone and the music source into a mixer. A mixer could have several inputs for CDs, tape recorders, record players or more…

Radio building is a fun first project for the DIY electronics hobbyist. The components for a homemade radio kit are easy to find and cheap. The question is knowing which parts to buy. It's difficult…

General Electric's RT3E Overload Relay is intended to protect electronics from getting fried by too much electrical current. This device is constructed for outdoor installation with flexibility in…

Televisions are one of the primary media outlets by which people acquire information, entertainment and education. It is fascinating that a certain image and sound can be sent from distant regions of…

Crystal oscillators generate exact, constant radio frequencies. Most commonly crystal oscillators are used in electronic equipment, including the motherboard of computers, television sets and cellular…

An ammeter is a device which is used to detect and measure the amount of electric current flowing through it. The device has zero internal resistance, since it drops very little voltage as electrons…

Passive components, when considering electronics such as audio equipment, are those components within the audio equipment that do not require electricity to function. The entire system will obviously…

Transformers can direct electricity from one location to another without a direct connection. Through this, the transformer changes the electricity from one voltage level to another voltage level. The…

Making a LED (light emitting diode) circuit board is a good exercise for those new to electronics. It does not require a lot of components or expertise, and it is a useful circuit to know. When making…

Both an ammeter and voltmeter measure electrical quantities. An ammeter measures electrical current, or the rate at which electrical charge travels through the circuit. A voltmeter measures the…

General Electric (GE) has been a major manufacturer of electrical components for decades. GE electrical components are found in almost every major industry, including the automotive industry,…

Oscillators are circuits that produce waveform outputs from a direct input current. This back-and-forth movement is usually at a set frequency, making oscillators useful for a variety of applications…

An oscillator is an electric circuit that has a DC (direct current) input and creates the waveform necessary for a specific use. Each waveform is used for a different application, and there are many…

A multi-battery isolator, also known simply as a battery isolator, helps to improve the efficiency of charging and discharging batteries by selecting only one battery to use at a time.

The need to wire multiple LEDs (light emitting diodes) can arise for many understandable reasons. You may want to make your own light emitting diode sign. Perhaps you are trying your hand at building…

Direct current (DC) power is often used in conjunction with alternating current (AC) power. When the two power types are used together, an adapter must be used to convert the power from one form to…

Inductors are electronic devices typically comprised of tightly wrapped coils. These coils are wrapped around a metal or air core. Inductors are measured in henrys (H) and are akin to capacitors.…

Creating an infrared, or IR, light is an inexpensive and relatively simple project. IR lights can be used for night vision, thermography, heating and various other purposes. Making a freestanding IR…

Multimeters are used in all areas of electronics to determine the voltage, amperage or resistance in an electrical circuit. Analog versions use a needle and dial display, like a speedometer in a car,…

Power light emitting diodes (LEDs) are very useful since they indicate the on or off state of an electronic device or household appliance. Without a power LED on an such equipment, there is no way to…

Wiring light emitting diodes (LEDs) in parallel is a somewhat uncommon practice. Because the LEDs are in parallel, the diode with the lowest resistance will be lit the brightest, while the other…

A chip resistor or SMD (Surface-Mount Device) resistor is a useful electronic component because of its small size. However, a chip resistor can be difficult to solder, making it a one-time use…

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), a trade association for the electrical manufacturing industry, has published more than 500 standards, application guides, and technical…

In many car audio installations, because there is no direct connection to ground, the differences in ground signals can cause electrical distortion in the signals. Normally, this isn't a big problem…

Telephone circuits are dedicated connections used to transmit voice or data information. Phone circuits rely on a tip-and-ring operation, which form the two sides of a phone's circuit.

There are many features to consider before purchasing an oscilloscope. The price of an oscilloscope increases with accuracy of measurement. There are four major specifications to look for when…

"Solid-state" is the term used to describe electronic devices that control current with solid, semiconductor components. Semiconductors are materials that have an electrical conductivity somewhere…

Circuit Boards are the core electronic wiring for most modern electronics, and to fry the circuit board means to severely damage your device. Circuit boards are composed of a fiberglass board woven…

Mobile electronics certification is the process of becoming a certified mobile electronics professional. Mobile electronics professionals customize, install and repair electronics, such as audio and…

A voltage regulator is designed to maintain a constant level of voltage within an electrical circuit, and it is an example of a negative feedback control loop. It can be used to regulate both…

Alternating Current is the standard type of electricity used for household appliances. Perhaps not surprisingly, it is also the type of electricity that comes out of wall electrical sockets.…

Whether you are an electrical professional or a student engaged with a science experiment, there are many tools to measure whether or not a circuit is conducting electricity. Each tool has its own…

Power within any electric circuit is measured by assessing the power of each of the components found within the circuit. A series circuit is made of a connection between each component in such a way…

Fuses are commonly described by their voltage rating, current-handling capability and their operating speed. The "5A 250V Slow Fuse" identification describes those three characteristics for a fuse.

Electrical power comes in two distinct types, alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). Electrical power works because electrons flow from atom to atom in many substances. Although a magnet…

Although mobile electronics are becoming more popular every day, they have one drawback of needing to rely on batteries while traveling. For long distances, you may have to buy separate chargers to…

A fluorescent lamp is a gas discharge lamp that produces visible light by using electricity to excite mercury vapor. Fluorescent lamps are common in institutional and commercial buildings. Smaller,…

A schematic is a symbolic representation of an electronic circuit. Learning schematics is just like learning any other symbolic language. You have to know what each symbol means and you have to know…

A car battery runs on a 12-volt DC current, which can be converted to AC by way of a power inverter. The AC power inverter plugs into your cigarette lighter jack and converts the battery's power over…

Unlike the broadcast radio found in your car that only receives signals, two-way radio both transmits and receives. The most common types are walkie talkies, Family Radio Service, CBs and amateur…

A parallel circuit is an electrical circuit which has two or more paths for an electrical charge to flow through. The parallel circuit is the standard electrical circuit found in most homes and…

NEMA stands for National Electric Manufacturer's Association. This trade association sets standards and produces publications for electrical equipment in the United States, including motors. Motors…

Inductors are electronic devices that transmit and measure electric current in a prepared relation with the amount of current applied. Inductors are basically electromagnets; they are used to regulate…

Line filters suppress the ElectroMagnetic Interference (EMI) of electrical devices from external radiation. If a radio is picking up "noise" from a nearby line of AC current, an AC line filter is…

Electronics now assist with many tasks once handled by simple machines or done by hand. As students learn about the electronic processes that make daily life run smoothly, they develop a better…

Parallel circuits provide multiple pathways for an electrical current. To solve for a simple parallel circuit, you'll need to know parallel circuit laws that pertain to the circuit's voltage,…

There are interesting car electronics projects you can build or install yourself. A dashboard-video rear view camera is one such idea, and a device you can make in the garage to defog your windshield…

Load resistance, also referred to as load impedance, is the opposition that an alternating current experiences on the device being fed the signal. A speaker offers load impedance to incoming signals.…

It seems almost every household product is electronic these days. As a result, more and more people are attempting do-it-yourself electronics project for fun and for practical purposes. With a little…

An ammeter is an instrument that measures the electric current within a circuit. Ammeters measure direct electrical current and alternating electrical current. Electrical current is measured in…

A resistor is an electronic component commonly found in electronic circuits. The "ohm" is the unit of measure for resistors. The value is usually indicated by color-coded stripes on the resistor.…

A Displacement Transducer, also known as an LVDT or Linear Variable Differential Transformer, is a high-resolution electronic sensor used for measuring linear displacement. It is a reliable instrument…

A parallel circuit means that electrical charges, or, current flowing through the circuit can take any of multiple paths. If one of the paths is broken, current will still continue to flow through the…

Fuses are essential components in electronic circuitry, detecting the current flow in a circuit and causing it to open if the current exceeds a certain level. This prevents permanent damage to…

Designing a multi-speaker circuit uses the same rules as a multi-resistor circuit. Multi-speaker circuits can be series circuits, parallel circuits or combination series-parallel circuits. Depending…

There are three main properties that make electricity work: voltage, amps and resistance. These properties work together inside a circuit to allow electricity to move from place to place.

Schematics are diagrams that represent the various elements of a particular system. They often use graphic symbols that are abstract representations of real things.

Direct current electrical energy is often introduced when amplifying an audio signal. It can take the form of static or "popping" noises when the signal is converted to a sound wave. One way to screen…

Alligator clips are used in a wide variety of applications. From circuit bending to craft making, these handy clips are small enough to fit in tight spaces yet sturdy and dependable. Alligator clips…

Believe it or not, fluorescent lights are instrumental in the daily lives of millions. They are particularly useful in hospitals, schools and offices for better viewing. They also have long operating…

Early ship-to-ship or ship-to-shore communications consisted of flag signals and bells or foghorns, each with severe limitations such as requiring clear line-of-sight or having a limited audible…

The United States Post Office processes an average of 584 million mail items every day, according to the USPS website. What is more, these figures don't include the number of items shipped by other…

Batteries power everything from toys to life-saving devices like pacemakers. Batteries convert stored energy into usable electrical energy. A chemical reaction inside the battery generates power,…

Digital ammeters are used to measure the amount of current, or amperes, in an electrical circuit. It is important to understand how to use your ammeter when working on circuit boards, and when testing…

Both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) represent forms of electrical power. Before the late 1800s, only DC existed, produced by batteries and mechanical generators. The invention of…

Inductors such as coils and transformers act as straight conductors when a constant direct current (DC) voltage is passing through them, but as low-pass filters with specific cut-off frequencies where…

When resistors are wired in a circuit with a constant voltage, you can calculate the power of the circuit if you know the value of the voltage, in volts, and the values of each resistor, in ohms. Once…

Electrons, a component of atoms, and their use---known as electronics---play an important role in many pieces of household equipment. Basic electronics comprises the minimal "electronics components"…

Most amplifiers are multistage amplifiers. Each stage is a small amplifier circuit. To get the desired power output, multiple stages are connected in a chain configuration. This means that the output…

Chances are, you have several alternating current (AC) adapters at work in your home, powering phones, computers, and small appliances. These small, nondescript devices that plug into the wall provide…

Many gadgets run on rechargeable batteries. The alternating current (AC) adapter that plugs into the wall to run your cell phone or electric razor may be warm to the touch. If it's excessively hot,…

Water damage is one of the biggest problems that cause electronic items to need replacement. However, the surprising truth is that much of the damage that can occur to electronic items from water is…

Multimeters measure voltage, resistance and current. An analog multimeter has a pointer that moves over a printed scale to display its measured readings. As a single instrument, a multimeter can…

Strobe lights can signify anything from excitement (at a carnival) to danger (on a police car). You can make a light-emitting diode strobe light that will attract attention or just provide personal…

Ammeters are connected quite differently from the ways that voltmeters or ohmmeters are connected. For ohmmeters, the components must be isolated from both the circuit and the power. Voltmeters…

A surge protector can help you protect your electrical equipment from the occasional power surges that can occur at any time. When you understand surge protectors better, you can use them more…

Oscilloscopes are measuring instruments used to test signal voltages in electronic devices such as television and radio broadcasting equipment, as well as audio recording equipment. Digital storage…

Electronics is a vast area of study which basically involves drawing, creating and troubleshooting electronic circuits. It is a distinct practical discipline of physics which requires a great deal of…

In order for electrical and electronic devices to function as designed it is necessary that all circuits provide the desired outputs. In the case of frequencies needed for particular results, the LC…

Electrical networks vary in size, shape and function. Every network is composed of many different components. Each component connected in the network and to the network will affect the power flow…

An electronics business provides a variety of mechanical products and parts to consumers, including cell phones, televisions, computers, peripherals and components. If you plan to open this type of…

Oscillators are circuits---essentially a connected inductor and capacitor---which create a waveform output. There are two main types of oscillator, harmonic and relaxation, that are used in a variety…

Changing a 220-volt outlet to 110 volts involves installing new outlets, breakers and electrical cable. The cable for 110 volt will only have three wires, as opposed to the four, for the 220-volt…

Modern appliances are full of delicate electrical sensors and various components. These components need to be adequately protected to ensure they operate at an optimal performance level. For the cost…

Balanced currents are currents flowing in two conductors and are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction at every point along the line. Sometimes referred to as push-pull currents, they have many…

To learn global positioning system (GPS) electronics, you'll need a basic knowledge of GPS satellite technology, microwave communication electronics and digital signal processing theory. But before…

A schematic is a very intimidating looking diagram of the inside components and signal path of an electronic piece of equipment. It is also known as a circuit diagram. The circuit diagram explains in…

A video inverter takes an image and reverses the polarity from positive to negative or from negative to positive. This image has a reversed color in the same way photograph negatives do. There are…

Many reasons exist for learning radio repair. Perhaps you seek an exciting career with a bankable trade that combines problem-solving skills and hands-on work. Or maybe you're a shortwave or antique…

Learning basic electronics will give you an overall education in the technological resources available today. Electronics are everywhere--computers, cameras, cell phones and stereos, just to name a…

In 2010, the online world of do-it-yourself and hobbyist electronics is as strong as it's ever been. You can find free plans, circuit diagrams, and step-by-step instructions for building a variety of…

Electrical systems based on 12-volt batteries can be used to supply 110-volt AC (alternating current) through the use of a voltage inverter. These devices can provide normal house current from a…

In a parallel circuit, the resistors are arranged in a way that the resistors' heads are connected together and the resistors' tails are connected together. The voltage across each resistor is the…

Power transformers are a magnetic component of a power supply circuit. Transformers play an essential role in ensuring your bedroom light will turn on when you flip the switch.

Your car's electrical system runs on DC current that is generated in the battery. The alternator also generates DC current to recharge the battery and to generate additional power. There is a little…

Light emitting diodes, or LEDs, are used in electrical and electronic circuits as indicator lights, flashlight bulbs, and other applications where light is needed. Because an LED has lower power…

The LED (light emitting diode) is a solid state light source. Although LEDs require a DC power source and cost more than fluorescent lights, LEDs have become popular because of their low operating…

The majority of modern clocks use tiny slices of quartz crystal to keep time. Quartz is a piezoelectric material. When it is jolted or bent, it produces an electric charge. Similarly, when it is…

A circuit breaker is an electrical switch that protects an electrical circuit from damage, which is generally caused by either overload or short.

Electricity is an omnipresent force in modern life; an invisible force that is always there powering our homes and machines, improving the productivity of our daily lives. Made up of a series of wires…

Schematics are like the blueprints of electricity. Like blueprints, schematics can be confusing to the untrained eye. To learn how to read a schematic, you will need to familiarize yourself with…

Think of the many electronic appliances around your home: televisions, satellite dish receivers, radios, stereo systems, DVD players, digital clocks, computers, cell phones, cordless phones, answer…

As an electronic device, television has been with us since the 1930s when Dumont produced the first American cathode-ray tube (CRT) system for general sale. Between then and today, this integrated…

Components in an electrical or electronic circuit can be connected in configurations called "series" or "parallel." Components including resistors, capacitors, inductors and batteries are often placed…

A thermocouple is a component used in electronic and certain mechanical circuits. It is composed of two dissimilar metals joined together at one end. A voltage develops across the metals. This voltage…

An electromagnet is a coil of wire wrapped around a piece of magnetic metal. Its coiling is meant to amplify the magnetic field that surrounds it, and consequently pose a greater attraction to the…

Use a Megger to test the insulation on a grounded wire or between the conductors on a circuit board. Testing the grounding system for hospitals, business parks or any other kind of facility can help…

A speaker is a device that is used to convert an electrical signal into sound. Because it makes use of electrical currents, how these currents are able to flow is important to how well the sound comes…

One of the most useful tools for troubleshooting electrical issues is the DVOM, or Digital Volt Ohm Meter. This versatile device can measure circuitry and diagnose trouble. It is capable of measuring…

A solar panel is essentially a battery charger that transforms sunlight into an electrical DC charge. You can keep your boat's battery charged and ready to operate by connecting it to a solar panel.…

Designing your own electronic circuit can be a huge learning experience and a lot of fun. There are a lot of ways to get this done. You can make printed circuit boards on a laser jet printer or you…

Bread boards are a popular test bed for electronics experimentation. They allow the experimenter to change parts easily without soldering as he fine tunes the circuit he wishes to optimize. Most bread…

During WWII, hundreds of soldiers were stuck in trenches and foxholes. To pass the time and to get information, the soldiers came up with brilliantly simple methods of constructing radios that worked…

Creating your own flashlight is a basic electronics chore that is often undertaken in beginner circuitry classes. The simple circuit used to illuminate a light bulb, relatively low voltage and…

Ohmic contacts are a type of contact used in semiconductor fabrication. They are the most common variety of contact because of their versatility and wide application range. The defining aspect of…

Electric motors are designed to run on specific voltages. If you put too much voltage through the motor, the circuitry and wiring will be damaged. This is due to the fact that the electricity really…

Audio transformers are specially-designed for audio circuits. They block radio-frequency interference. They also block the DC components of an audio signal. They also split or combine audio…

A dual-coil magnet or bifilar coil magnet, first created and patented by Tesla, is used most often as a resistor in electronic appliances, a device created to oppose electric currents. Like other…

In 1975, Robert Mammano, who then worked for the Silicon General Company, invented the regulating pulse-width modulator (PWM) integrated circuit chip, SG1524. The invention of this chip revolutionized…

A tank circuit is an electronic circuit used in many applications, including oscillators, TV and radio sets. In it's most basic form, the circuit consists of just two electronic components, namely a…

Shut off the power into the circuit breaker box before installing breakers. Some homes have a main switch for disconnecting power and this shuts off power to the service panel. Other houses have no…

This article explains how to measure amperage with a VOM meter. I recently read an article on this website that stated you must use a clamp ammeter to read amperage and that you can not read…

If you're just beginning your study of electrical circuits, you've probably become familiar with direct current (DC) circuits such as those created using battery power. While DC is straightforward and…

We rely on electrical circuits each and every day, in nearly every aspect of our lives. In the morning, you wake up to an alarm clock that is powered by electricity. Turn on a light and put on an…

The transformer is one of the key inventions fundamental to creating the electrified world. The AC electric model, with its high voltage power transmission, is completely dependent on transformer…

An electric wiring diagram is a visual representation of an electrical circuit, showing the location of the power sources, wires, connection points and signaling mechanisms. It uses a standardized…

Modern civilization would be impossible without the technology of transformers. The very concept of AC electricity does not work without them, so in a world without transformers, many of our common…

There are many different types of radio receiver circuits, and all of them work in different ways. The primitive crystal radio receiver is so simple that it can be easily built by a child, while a…

Closed circuit TV systems can be found in a variety of settings, ranging from banks to stores, airports and military installations. Many homes also employ a closed circuit system. As such, home…

The rotation of the alternator creates force fields that cut through the stator windings, creating alternating current. Alternating current travels in two direction and is unusable for a car's…

Thermocouples are widely used in manufacturing and industry whenever precise temperature control is required. They are rarely incorporated in the residential home, although newer HVAC units are…

For the most part, the biggest application for transformers in contemporary society is their ability to boost the voltage of an electrical current so that it can be transmitted over long distances.…

An electronic circuit is the basic unit through which electricity is transmitted. The circuit is usually soldered onto a printed circuit board (PCB). The printed circuit board allows each component of…

Converting DC power to AC can be done many different ways. Most consumers only need the simplest method, which is with a DC-to-AC power inverter that can be attached to a battery or a vehicle…

Build a radio that needs no artificial power source. You use the natural power of radio waves to power your radio, and you can easily construct your own homemade radio in your home, office or…

Toasters have been around for decades, but they lack in innovation. A fully functional toaster can be made in your own home using only basic supplies. Put your own personal touch on a toaster by…

Kids love alarms - or anything else that seems cloak and dagger for that matter. Although a sophisticated home alarm system is beyond your typical hobbyist, it is easy to make a door alarm with your…

Tips and advice for troubleshooting circuit boards. Learn how to repair circuit boards in this free vintage electronics restoration video.

Robots have long captured our imagination. They have taken on many forms over the years. However, working robots are normally designed not as a multitasking device that resembles a human being, but…

Autonomous robots can do things without being controlled by humans. They have sensors for detecting various environmental factors such as temperature, sound and light. Building an autonomous robot…

Knowing the proper and safe way to work with wire endings is important when working with the internals of kids' electronic toys. This includes knowing how to strip and cut wires for circuit bending…